Vegetarians are more intelligent, according to a new study.
A study of thousands of men and women revealed that those who stick to a vegetarian diet have IQs that are around five points higher than those who regularly eat meat.
Writing in the British Medical Journal, the researchers say it isn't clear whyveggiesare brainier - but admit the fruit and veg-rich vegetarian diet could somehow boost brain power.
The researchers, from the University of Southampton, tracked the fortunes of more than 8,000 volunteers for 20 years.
They found that those who were vegetarians by the age of 30 had recorded five points more on average at the age of 10.
Further analysis of the results showed those who were brainiest as children were mor e likely to have become vegetarian as adults.
The typical adult veggie had a childhood IQ of around 105 - around five points higher than those who continued to eat meat as they grew up.
The vegetarians were also more likely to have gained degrees and hold down high-powered jobs.
However, these differences were not reflected in their annual income, which was similar to that of non-vegetarians.
There was no difference in IQ between strict vegetarians and those who classed themselves as veggie but still ate fish or chicken.
However,vegans- vegetarians who also avoid dairy products - scored significantly lower, averaging an IQ score of 95 at the age of 10.
表明,堅持吃素食的人比經常吃肉的人智商高五分左右。
這項研究結果在《英國醫學期刊》上發表。研究人員稱,素食者智商更高的具體原因還不清楚,但素食中豐富的水果和蔬菜可以增強腦力。
南安普頓大學的研究人員對8000多名志愿者進行了長達20年的跟蹤調查。
結果發現,30歲之前一直以素食為主的調查對象在10歲時的智商平均高出五分。
研究人員通過進一步分析發現,智商較高的兒童成人后成為素食者的可能性較大。
成年素食者在兒童時期的智商大約為105,比非素食者兒童時期的智商高五分左右。
此外,素食者獲得學位和擔任高層職位的幾率較大。
但素食者和非素食者在收入方面沒有什么差別。
此外,嚴格素食者和吃魚和雞肉的素食者的智商水平沒什么差別。
但不食用奶制品的完全素食者的智商水平則要低得多,他們10歲時的平均智商只有95分